Defend the principles of our republic
In particular the proclamation declares the need for "cherishing all of the children of the nation equally".
It is ironic therefore that it was in the week before the 88th anniversary of that momentous event that the Government announced that they are to hold a referendum to deny Irish citizenship to Irish children born in this country to non-national parents.
It is a complete abandonment of the principles within the proclamation and it is a clear signal that this Government do not want to "cherish all of the children of the nation equally".
This referendum is not about denying citizenship, asylum or residency rights to immigrants, but is solely about denying citizenship to newly-born Irish babies whose parents just happen to be non-national.
The children whom Mr McDowell and his cronies want to target will not have chosen to be born here or anywhere else just as none of us had a say in where we were born. Yet they are to be treated as second-class human beings in the country of their birth, denied their right to Irish citizenship if the Government gets its way.
The Government would be better off fulfilling promises to eliminate waiting lists and increase medical cards and taking action to stop the ever-increasing levels of crime rather than targeting defenceless babies.
Gerry Casey,
7, Rosewood Court,
Maugheraboy,
Sligo.
